Grand Opera: The Life, Languages, and Teaching of Miriam Ellis Interviewed by Cameron Vanderscoff Edited by Cameron Vanderscoff and Irene Reti Miriam Ellis Speaking at Cowell College, Circa 2013 Santa Cruz University of California, Santa Cruz University Library 2020 This oral history is covered by copyright agreement between Miriam Ellis and the Regents of the University of California. Under “fair use” standards, excerpts of up to six hundred words may be quoted without the University Library’s permission, as long as the materials are properly cited. Quotations of more than six hundred words require the written permission of the Head of Special Collections and Archives, and a proper citation, and may also require a fee. Under certain circumstances, not-for-profit users may be granted a waiver of the fee. For permission contact:
[email protected]. A Gallery of Posters for the International Playhouse Contents Introduction 1 Prologue 15 Early Life and Family History 16 Centre de l’art dramatique, appliqué à l’étude du français, Center of Theater Arts, New York City 24 More Family History 32 Working in the Displaced Persons Camps, Post World War II 41 Hosting Eugene Ionesco at UCSC 59 Coming back to the United States: Life in the 1950s and 1960s 62 Wanting to be More than a Wife and Mother: Going Back to School 69 Coming to UC Santa Cruz as a Graduate Student in Literature 83 Graduate Work with Professor Joseph Silverman 105 Narrative Evaluations Instead of Grades 107 A Brief French Lesson 109 Life as a Graduate Student at UCSC 115 More on Serving as Translator for Eugene Ionesco During his Visit to UCSC 134 More on the Dissertation and Joseph Silverman 140 Early Theatrical Productions 152 Key Colleagues and Inspirations 203 Teaching 205 The UCSC Colleges 248 La Maison francophone 251 Key Colleagues 254 More on the International Playhouse 257 Reflections on UC Santa Cruz 287 Au revoir 291 Appendices 295 Accolades 295 [Abbreviated] Cumulative Bio-Bibliography.